Above: Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic with George Sanna.

The third of four legs of the 2023 Stal Tops Australian Young Rider Series was held yesterday afternoon as part of the 4CYTE Jumping@Willinga Show at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast. The Series, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander and her husband Jan Tops is now in its fifth season. With four legs scheduled over the year, Young Rider combinations have the opportunity to score points along the way, with the highest scoring combination being crowned the series winner, after the final leg, to be held at SIEC as part of the Summer Classic show in December.

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The class saw a total of 20 combinations tackle the course, designed by Graeme Watts, who had travelled down from Queensland to work at the show. The course provided quite a challenge to the field, seeing a number of combinations collect double figure fault totals as well as an elimination and a retirement. However, the challenges were not insurmountable as proven by the two clear combinations who needed a jump off to determine the class winners.

Victorian rider Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic, who the previous day had won a 1.35m Young Rider class, were first out in the jump off, delighting the large crowd watching on with a second clear effort, putting all the pressure onto his competitor. Anneliese Wansey knew what was required when she and Kolora Stud St Patrick entered the arena. Only a clear round in less than 47.73 seconds would be enough to take the win, however, it was not to be. While they travelled most of the way around the course with the rails intact, one did eventually fall and that point the crowd knew that Jack had won. Anneliese finished with just the single rail down in a time of 55.10 seconds. Third place went to the fastest first round 4-faulters, namely Chase Naylor and Checkbook.

Above: Jack Barker and Tulara Colchic

Above: Anneliese Wansey and Kolora Stud St Patrick

Above: Chase Naylor and Checkbook.

We look forward to the final round of the Series, scheduled for Sydney in December

The full placings in Leg 3 of the Series are listed below:

CLASS 17: STAL TOPS AUSTRALIAN YOUNG RIDER SERIES 2023 (LEG 3)

Results sourced from online.equipe.com

Deserved winners, as the only double clear combination, Jack and Tulara Colchic extended their leader in the Series point score, after coming into the leg at the top of the leader board by just a single point. They had previously finished second and fifth in the earlier legs, and no doubt would be happy breaking through for their first win of the series.

Georgia Bouzaid and Vitess, finished ninth yesterday, ensuring they are the only combination, other than the leaders, who have secured points in each of the three legs so far. They lie in equal second place on 14 points with Chase Naylor and Misty Blue Ego Z, who finished fourth in the first two legs, but could not add to their total yesterday. The nine points that Anneliese Wansey and Kolora Stud St Patrick picked up for their second placing, promoted them to fourth place, just a point behind.

Below is the current unofficial point score in the series.